Monthly Archives: July 2015

173 cities and counting are participating in the 2015 World Wide Shimmy Mob on May 9, 2015!

Looking for a worthy cause to be involved in? Take part in the world’s largest international belly dance event: Shimmy Mob! The Shimmy Mob was created to raise awareness for shelters for victims of abuse.

United, we dance using the same song and the same choreography, wearing the same t-shirt, sharing the same goals, on the same day all over the world. This year, we are celebrating the 5th anniversary and we aim to break the world record again!

We invite all dancers at all levels to participate. Super fun and easy to learn, the 2015 choreography provides step-by-step breakdown in online videos.

3 locations! Stadium: 808-488-1101 Waipahu: 808-678-3763 Wahiawa: 808-626-5754 Taught by our own Helena Ratzlaff Bauer: Helenka was born in Siberia and grew up in Germany. She began performing at a very young age in the Russian Gypsy style that was influenced by the widespread Gypsy culture at the time, and discovered Middle Eastern Dance a few years ago in South Korea. A lifelong dancer and AFAA Fitness instructor, she shares her passion for Oriental dance and yoga with young students at Skies Unlimited Schofield Barrcks and Aliamanu Military Installation. Contact Helenka for more information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001401896907&fref=ts

What to bring: Please bring Zill (Finger Cymbals) and veil. Some finger cymbals are available for purchase. Contact Masayo for details.

Masayo performs and teaches Egyptian style belly dance. She was President of MEDAH in 2011 and dances regularly at local restaurants. Masayo has also recently performed in west coast events including Rakkasah Festival in Richmond, 23th Annual Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, and the 10th anniversary dinner show of award winning Middle-Earth Ensemble in San Diego. She also performed with Island Oasis Ensemble at several local venues, one of which was broadcasted on KITV4 morning news show to promote Oahu Fringe Festival. Masayo feels fortunate to share her joy of dancing, as belly dancing is a never-ending journey.

On November 1 MEDAH gathered to observe Culture Day, a national holiday in Japan that promotes culture, the arts and academic endeavor. The evening featured a diverse sampling of dance, singing and music, and was re-dedicated as a celebration of the life of Jackie Ward. Jackie was a gracious matriarch and unwavering supporter of the arts. The evening’s proceeds were donated in Jackie’s memory.

Start the New Year off right with dance! Deepen you dance, artistry, musicality, and approach to improvisation with Kalae’s Spring Workshop Series!

Join Kalae on the last weekend of the month for the next four months!
$25 per class at pre-registration rate
$30 at the door
$80 for the whole series
To pre-register send paypal payment to:
kalae@shakti808.com
Payments can also be made in person in any of Kalae’s current classes.

January 25th 4-6pm Manoa Dance Studio Invoking Inspiration
In this workshop we will discuss several techniques that help to develop your point of view as a dancer. A how to guide to: injecting YOU in your dance! Lets take a journey of self discovery into finding your inner voice as an artist, what inspires you, what moves you, and what is it about dance that keeps you going? Treasuring the little bits of inspiration and learning what to do with it. Learn tips for nurturing habits that foster your creativity and the importance of developing a home practice. We will then transition into the movement section of the class in which we will learn how to create a basic structure for improvisation. Structured improvisation is a great tool for dancers new to solo work to feel supported on stage and eliminates the pressure to create a whole choreography for a solo. Please bring a notebook.

February Time and Location TBA Mastering Manipulations
In this workshop we will discuss the 16 ways to manipulate a motif as stated in the Intimate Act of Choreography by Lynne Anne Blom & L. Train Chaplin. We will then learn a short and simple choreography and explore the many ways to manipulate it! Be prepared to stretch time, play with force and tempo, add embellishments, and more! Most importantly this is a class for you to be creative and have fun adding your own ideas to the structure I give you. This is a great class for students who have worked with manipulations before and students new to the work. Please bring a notebook.

March Time and Location TBA Going Mental for Musicality
Musicality is the art of connecting your movements to the rhythm, melody, and mood of the music. In this class we will explore exercises to increase your awareness of music and analyze the many choices you have to interpret the music with your body. Participation in “Mastering Manipulations” would be helpful but not mandatory to take this class. Developing a good sense of musicality will help you build compelling, impressive, and attractive dances, adding variation to your movements and keeping your dance from looking flat. Please bring a note book.

April Time and Location TBA Immerse yourself in Improvisation Description & Details TBA!

Morning Brew is a great spot for trying out that new solo or new troupe number. The space is warm and inviting, and the perfect opportunity for dancing in an intimate space. There is a small stage that can accommodate perhaps 2 dancers, and a lower floor area that can hold 3 more performers. Attached are photos from our last event, to familiarize you with stage size.

If you are a member and would like to perform, please contact MEDAH at medah808@gmail.com. Send a short bio for introduction, along with your music in MP3 format. Please come fully dressed (there are no changing rooms).

On November 1 MEDAH gathered to observe Culture Day, a national holiday in Japan that promotes culture, the arts and academic endeavor. The evening featured a diverse sampling of dance, singing and music, and was re-dedicated as a celebration of the life of Jackie Ward. Jackie was a gracious matriarch and unwavering supporter of the arts. The evening’s proceeds were donated in Jackie’s memory.